Two New Mechanized Brigades to Be Formed Despite Shortages

Ukraine’s Ground Forces plan to establish two new mechanized brigades despite severe manpower shortages and critical equipment deficits across existing formations, many of which are operating at less than 30 percent of authorized strength.

The issue was highlighted by Taras Chmut, head of the Come Back Alive Foundation, who stated that his organization would be unable to adequately support the newly planned units due to the widespread understaffing already affecting the Armed Forces.

“The Armed Forces plan to form two new mechanized brigades despite the complete understaffing of roughly two hundred existing units,” Chmut wrote. “This comes amid a severe shortage of experienced commanders and senior officers, as well as major unmet demands for ammunition, drones, transport, communications equipment, and other essential materiel. All of this is happening despite repeated assurances from officials that no such expansion would take place.”

According to Hromadske, the units in question are the 167th and 50th Mechanized Brigades. An officer interviewed by the outlet claimed that personnel were being reassigned from established combat units to support the formation of the new brigades.

“The 167th is currently being formed under the direction of Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, and as many troops as possible are being transferred there,” the officer stated. “Our brigade received orders to release personnel. The most frustrating part is spending months building a capable unit, training soldiers, and organizing combat effectiveness, only to see that structure dismantled overnight.”

Military journalist Diana Butsko stated that the designation 50th Mechanized Brigade may have been intentionally selected to blend in with legacy unit numbering and avoid drawing significant public attention to the brigade’s formation process.